Military ordnance found in Pico Rivera riverbed

PICO RIVERA - A military ordnance was found in the San Gabriel River Thursday.

A public works employee picking up trash in the riverbed south of Whittier Boulevard, east of Pico Vista Road around 2 p.m. discovered a small wooden crate containing the ordnance, Lt. Andrew Meyer said.

The crate looked like it had there for awhile.

He said the item was described to him as some type of mortar shell with fins at the back of it, about two feet long and eight inches in diameter.

The sheriff's Arson and Explosives Detail couldn't identify the item, thought it was some type of military weapon and notified Camp Pendleton, Meyer said.

The military took away the ordnance.

"They couldn't identify it but it seemed safe to transport," Meyer said.